Simone Biles is officially back and pushing the limits of human possibility - both on the gymnastics floor and on the medal stand. The world’s most decorated gymnast will compete for her record eighth national title at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, August 24-27, in San Jose, California.
That’s “record,” as in the first woman or man to win eight national all-around titles. When Biles won her seventh title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth in 2021, NBC notes, she tied a male gymnast named Alfred Jochim, who won seven, from 1925 to 30 and in 1933. (Yes, 90 years ago.)
At 26, Biles also could become the oldest U.S. women’s all-around champion since USA Gymnastics was founded in 1963. She will go for gold by competing the most difficult vault in women’s gymnastics, the Yurchenko double pike.
To get to the title, Biles will have to flip, twist, and soar above some of her fiercest competitors and Olympic teammates, including Jade Carey, Suni Lee, and her Houston training mate Jordan Chiles. Also in the mix: 2022 national champion Konnor McClain and silver medalist Shilese Jones, and superstars Skye Blakely (of Frisco) Leanne Wong, and Joscelyn Roberson (of Texarkana).
“Fasten your seatbelts. Because there has never been a better time to be a gymnastics fan than now,” say the experts at Inside Gymnastics Magazine.
How to watch this potential history-making competition? With several broadcast and streaming sites all carrying coverage, it’s more complicated than a roundoff-triple-double.
Men will compete for their national titles on Thursday and Saturday, women, on Friday and Sunday. All the action will be shown across NBC properties. The schedule looks like this, all times CDT:
Thursday, August 24
- 7 pm - Men Day 1 - live on Peacock
Friday, August 25
- 7 pm - Women Day 1 - live on Peacock
Saturday, August 26
- 9:30 am - Men Day 1 - rebroadcast on CNBC
- 3:30 pm - Women Day 1 - rebroadcast on CNBC
- 6 pm - Men Day 2 - live on Peacock, NBC.com, and CNBC
Sunday, August 27
- 11 am - Men Day 2 - rebroadcast on NBC
- 5:30 pm - Women Day 2 - live coverage begins on Peacock and NBC.com
- 6 pm - Women Day 2 - live on NBC
On the men’s side, the biggest names include Asher Hong and Donnell Whittenburg; reigning all-around champ Brody Malone is out due to injury.
Both the men and women will be competing for spots on five-person teams at the World Championships in October, and looking toward the 2024 Olympic team.
Biles began a comeback to competitive gymnastics earlier this month after a two-year hiatus following the Tokyo Olympics. She won it by a full five points.